Method and apparatus for operating vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for operating a vacuum cleaner in which by detecting a rotational speed of a variable speed fan motor adapted to give a suction force to the cleaner and its change range, the choking state of the filter and the state of the cleaned surface are discriminated, and a speed command of the fan motor is corrected on the basis of the result of the discrimination, and the comfortable cleaning can be performed by the optimum suction force.

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 07/365,491, filed Jun. 13, 1989, which in turn is a divisional of application Ser. No. 07/105,598 filed Oct. 8, 1987 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,474.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner and, more particularly, to method and an apparatus for operating a vacuum cleaner in an optimum condition in accordance with the state of the cleaning surface and the choking state of the cleaner.

In vacuum cleaners, the suction is set to a constant value irrespective of the state of the cleaning surface. Therefore, the suction force is either too strong or too weak for the cleaning surface or an object to be cleaned, so that the optimum control which is comfortable to the user cannot be performed.

To solve this problem, such an optimum control can be realized by, for example, controlling the motor of the cleaner to adjust the suction in accordance with the cleaning surface. As a method of adjusting the suction force of the cleaner, a method whereby the rotational speed of the drive motor is variably set is first considered. As ways of changing the rotational speed of the motor, there have been known a method in which the phase is controlled using a thyristor and a method in which the rotational speed is controlled by an inverter.

A vacuum cleaner disclosed in the published application JP-A-60-242827 relates to the latter method. Namely, this cleaner uses a brushless motor which is driven by an inverter.

Although the motor which is driven by the inverter is disclosed in the foregoing published application, nothing is taught with respect to the technical concept of allowing the motor to be automatically operated in an optimum condition in accordance with the state of the cleaning surface or the choking state of the filter. In addition, means for implementing this technical concept is not disclosed or suggested.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the present invention to provide method and an apparatus for operating a vacuum cleaner in which the suction force is controlled to provide an optimum condition in accordance with the state of the cleaning surface and the choking state of the filter.

A second object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for operating a vacuum cleaner in which the rotational speed of a brushless DC motor is controlled to an optimum condition in accordance with the load state of the vacuum cleaner.

A third object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for operating a vacuum cleaner in which one type of speed control unit and motor can be used for two kinds of voltage systems.

It is a first feature of the present invention that, in a vacuum cleaner having a filter to collect dust and a variable speed fan motor adapted to produce a suction force for the cleaner, the rotational speed of the fan motor is sequentially detected at short periods during the cleaning, the state of the cleaning surface or an object to be cleaned is presumed from a fluctuation mode based on a change in rotational speed which was detected within a predetermined sampling time, and then the input of the fan motor is automatically adjusted to set the rotational speed of the motor to a speed which is suitable for the presumed state of the cleaning surface or the like.

It is a second feature of the invention that in a vacuum cleaner which comprises a brushless DC motor used as a drive source and a speed control unit consisting of an inverter control unit to drive this motor, a control circuit of the inverter control unit comprises a microcomputer, a current detecting circuit, a magnetic pole position detecting circuit, and a speed command circuit, and the load state of the cleaner is calculated by the microcomputer from a load current and a rotational speed of the brushless DC motor, and a voltage or a current which is applied to the brushless DC motor is controlled on the basis of the result of the load state so that the brushless DC motor has a series wound characteristic.

It is a third feature of the invention that, in a speed control unit of a motor comprising a step-up chopper circuit to step up a voltage which is obtained by rectifying an AC power source voltage, an electric power converter to control a current supplying angle (i.e. conducting period of angle) of an an output voltage of the step-up chopper circuit which is applied to a motor, and a control circuit to control the step-up chopper circuit and the electric power converter, the control circuit has: a power source voltage detecting circuit to detect the magnitude of an power source voltage; and a speed control circuit for controlling the speed of the motor by changing the output voltage of the step-up chopper circuit in a state in which the current supplying angle of the electric power converter is held to a predetermined value in the case where the AC power source voltage is of a low voltage system, and for controlling the speed of the motor by changing the current supplying angle of the electric power converter in the state in which the output voltage of the step-up chopper circuit is held to a predetermined value in the case where the AC power source voltage is of a high voltage system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a speed control unit comprising a brushless DC motor and an inverter control unit;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing performance curves of the vacuum cleaner;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing fluctuations in rotational speed due to the choking state of a filter;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a fluctuation in rotational speed in the case where the cleaning surface and the choking state of the filter are considered;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the different fluctuation modes in rotational speed for different cleaning surfaces;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a function table in accordance with the cleaning surface;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the processing which is executed by a microcomputer;

FIG. 9 is a control block diagram of an apparatus to drive the vacuum cleaner showing an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing performance curves in dependence on the presence or absence of choking of the filter;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing performance curves for various cleaning surfaces;

FIG. 12 is a control block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a speed control unit showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the processing operation of the microcomputer;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing performance curves of the vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram showing a control circuit of a speed control unit;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a speed control unit consisting of a brushless DC motor and an inverter control unit;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing performance curves of a vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram showing a control circuit of a speed control unit;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing performance curves of a vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram showing a control circuit of a speed control unit;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a speed control unit consisting of a brushless DC motor and an inverter control unit;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing performance curves of a vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing performance curves of a vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing performance curves of a vacuum cleaner having a power saving function;

FIG. 26 is a schematic block diagram showing a control circuit;

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing the processing operation of a microcomputer;

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing performance curves of a vacuum cleaner;

FIGS. 29A and 29B are diagrams showing changes in current to the state in which foreign matter is inhaled into an intake air passage and to the choking state of a filter;

FIG. 30 is a schematic block diagram showing a control circuit to drive a brushless DC motor;

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a circuit constitution of the control circuit;

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing waveforms of an AC power source voltage and a power source current;

FIG. 33 is a characteristic diagram of an initial charging voltage of a capacitor;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart for a switching process of a speed control of a microcomputer;

FIG. 35 is a characteristic diagram of a DC voltage to a sped command value;

FIGS. 36 and 36B are diagrams showing waveforms of voltages which are applied to a motor when its rotational speed is controlled by a step-up chopper circuit to improve the power factor;

FIGS. 37A and 37B are diagrams showing waveforms of voltages which are applied to the motor when its rotational speed is controlled by an inverter;

FIG. 38 is a schematic block diagram showing another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. The invention is constituted on the assumption that a variable speed motor is used as a drive source of a vacuum cleaner (fan motor). As a variable speed motor, it is considered to use an AC commutator motor whose speed is changed by controlling the input, a phase controlled motor, an induction motor which is driven by an inverter, a reactance motor, a brushless motor which is driven by an inverter, or the like. This embodiment will be explained with respect to an example using a brushless DC motor having no mechanical brush, so that the life of the motor is long and the control response speed is high.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention. In the diagram, reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum cleaner main body; 2 is a hose; 3 and 4 wheels; 5 a power supply cord; 6 and 7 filters; 8 a fan; 9 a brushless DC motor; and 10 an inverter control unit. When an electric blower consisting of the fan 8 and brushless DC motor 9 is driven by the inverter control unit 10, the air inhaled through the hose 2 passes along a path consisting of the filter 6, fan 8, and filter 7 as indicated by arrows and is discharged from the vacuum cleaner main body 1. Thus, the fine particles of abraded powder which might come from a brush of the motor are not discharged from the vacuum cleaner, and at the same time, the smell due to sparks at the brush is not generated, when using a brushless motor. Therefore, there is the advantage that the user can perform the cleaning operation under clean circumstances.

FIG. 2 shows details of a speed control unit consisting of the brushless DC motor 9 and inverter control unit 10 in accordance with the invention.

An AC power source 14 is rectified by a rectifier 15 and smoothed by a capacitor 16, so that a DC volta E_(d) is supplied to an inverter 20. The inverter 20 has a conducting period of angle 120° comprising transistors TR₁ to TR₆ and flywheel diodes D₁ to D₆ connected thereto. The transistors TR₁ to TR₃ constitute a positive arm of the inverter. The transistors TR₄ to TR₆ constitute a negative arm of the inventor. The current supplying period of time (i.e. conducting period or angle) of each arm corresponds to the electric angle of 120° and is pulse width modulated (PWM). A resister R₁ of a relatively low resistance is commonly connected between the emitter of each of the transistors TR₄ to TR₆ constituting the negative arm of the inverter and the anode terminal of each of the flywheel diodes D₄ to D₆.

The brushless DC motor 9 comprises a rotor 9b using permanent magnets of two poles as fields and a stator 9a into which armature windings U, V, and W are inserted. Since winding currents flowing through the armature windings U, V, and W also flow through the low resistor R₁, a load current I_(D) of the motor 9 can be detected by the voltage drop of the low resistor R₁. The speed control circuit of the brushless DC motor 9 mainly comprises: a magnetic pole position detecting circuit 12 to detect the position of the magnetic pole of the rotor R using a hall device 11 or the like; a current detecting circuit 17 for detecting the load current I_(D) ; a base driver 19 to drive the transistors TR₁ to TR₆ ; and a microcomputer 13 to drive the base driver 19 on the basis of detection signals obtained from the detecting circuits 12 and 17. Numeral 18 denotes an operation switch which is operated by the actual user.

The magnetic pole position detecting circuit 12 receives a signal from the Hall device 11 and produces a position detection signal 12S of the rotor 9b. The position detection signal 12S is used to switch the currents of the armature windings U, V, and W and is also used as the signal to detect the rotational speed. The microcomputer 13 obtains the speed by counting the number of position detection signals 12S within a predetermined sampling time.

The current detecting circuit 17 detects the voltage drop of the resistor R₁ to obtain the load current I_(D), and a current detection signal 17S is obtained by an A/D converter (not shown).

The microcomputer 13 comprises: a central processing unit (CPU) 13a; a read only memory (ROM) 13b; and a random access memory (RAM) 13c. Although not shown, these components are mutually connected by an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. The programs necessary to drive the motor 9, for example, the programs for the process to calculate the speed, the process to fetch a speed command, the process to control the speed, etc. are stored in the ROM 13b. In addition, a function table 22 in which various kinds of arbitrary speed control patterns are stored is provided in the ROM 13b.

The RAM 13c comprises: a memory section to read and write various kinds of data necessary to execute the foregoing various kinds of processing programs; and a memory section in which speed pattern data relative to the value of the winding current to be supplied at every position of the rotor is stored.

The transistors TR₁ to TR₆ are respectively driven by the base driver 19 in response to an ignition signal 13S which was processed and produced by the microcomputer 13. A voltage command circuit 21 produces a chopper signal, which will be explained hereinafter.

Since the winding currents flowing through the armature windings U, V, and W of the motor 9 correspond to the output torque of the motor 9, the output torque can be varied by changing the winding currents. Namely, by adjusting the load current I_(D), the output torque can be continuously arbitrarily changed. In addition, by changing the driving frequency of the inverter 20, the rotational speed can be freely changed.

The characteristic of the vacuum cleaner is as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the abscissa denotes the air flow amount Q (m³ /min) of the vacuum cleaner and the ordinate indicates the suction power P_(out) representative of the suction performance, the rotational speed N of the motor, and the load current I_(D). The region bounded by phantom lines indicates the actual operating range.

When the filter is choked, only to a slight degree the air flow wind amount Q is maximum and the rotational speed N is minimum. As the degree of choking progresses, the operating point gradually moves to the left and when the filter is completely choked, the air flow amount Q is minimum and the rotational speed N is maximum and the operating point reaches the minimum point. The suction power P_(out) decreases irrespective of the choking amount of the filter in the ranges before and after the maximum suction power P_(max) as a turning point. Therefore, by controlling the rotational speed of the motor to the optimum speed in accordance with the choking amount of the filter, it is possible to provide in the vacuum cleaner an improved suction power P_(out).

A method of detecting the state or kind of cleaning surface will now be described. In this embodiment, attention is paid to the fact that the minimum or maximum rotational speed, the average rotational speed, or the fluctuating state of the rotational speed varies in dependence on the cleaning surface. The cleaning surface is presumed from the rotational speed, thereby controlling the motor to perform the optimum operation according to the presumed state of the cleaning surface.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show fluctuations in rotational speed of the motor in the case of cleaning a tatami mat. (Japanese straw matting). These diagrams show the fluctuations in rotational speed which were actually confirmed by experiments. FIG. 4A shows the case where the air flow amount Q is large in the state in which the filter is not choked. FIG. 4B shows the case where the air flow amount Q is small in the state in which the filter is choked. As will be obvious from these diagrams, when the cleaning was performed by the cleaner whose air flow amount is large, i.e. has a relatively clean filter the rotational speed of the motor varied from a minimum speed N₁₁ to the maximum speed N₁₂. On the other hand, when the cleaning was performed by the cleaner in which the filter was somewhat choked, the rotational speed of the motor varied from the minimum speed N₁₃ to the maximum speed N₁₄. As will be clearly understood from the comparison between these two cases, in the case of the cleaner in the choking state, the minimum speed N₁₃ is higher than the minimum speed N₁₁ when the filter is not choked. Likewise, the maximum speed N₁₄ is also higher than the maximum speed N₁₂. Therefore, for example, if the minimum speed N₁₁ is stored in the ROM 13b or RAM 13c and compared with the minimum speed N₁₃ when the cleaner was actually operated, the choking state of the filter can be detected. A reference value of the rotational speed which is stored in the ROM 13b or RAM 13c is not limited to only the value of N₁₁ but may be set to N₁₂, N₁₃, or N₁₄. If the degree of the choking state is high, the difference between the rotational speeds is large. Therefore, by increasing the input so as to raise the rotational speed in accordance with this difference, a desired suction force of the cleaner can be obtained and the suction power P_(out) can be also improved.

As explained above, although the rotational speed of the motor of the cleaner varies in dependence on the choking state of the filter, it is actually largely influenced by the state of the cleaning surface. Since the cleaning surface is instantaneously changed during a single cleaning operation in a manner such that it is changed from the floor to a carpet or from a tatami mat to a curtain, a fluctuation in rotational speed occurs due to the change in cleaning surface, i.e., during a single cleaning operation when considering the time cycle. However, by properly setting the sampling time, the change in cleaning surface can be also detected.

This state is shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the abscissa denotes the surface or object to be cleaned and the ordinate indicates the rotational speed. Although there are various kinds of cleaning surfaces and objects to be cleaned, typical four kinds of typical cleaning surfaces and objects, such as a tatami mat, a carpet, a sofa, and a curtain are represented in this diagram. In the diagram, a solid line shows the rotating state in the case where the filter is not choked and a broken line indicates the rotating state in the case where the filter is choked. Namely, the rotational speed is the lowest in the case of a tatami mat and sequentially increases in accordance with the order of carpet, sofa, and curtain. This tendency is derived irrespective of the choking state of the filter. However, as the choking state progresses, there is a tendency for the difference between the rotational speeds to decrease even when the kind of cleaning surface changes. Although the rotational speeds N₁ to N₄ for the respective cleaning surfaces vary even when they are cleaned, respectively, each of those speeds represents the minimum rotational speed or average rotational speed. When a vacuum cleaner is operated for a long time in a closed room, the air is not circulated in the room and the heat cannot be radiated, so that the temperature increases and there is a fear of burning of the motor. To avoid this, a bypass passage is provided for the main air passage. In general, the bypass passage takes the outside air from portions other than the suction port and feeds cooling air to the electric blower. The inside of the cleaner is cooled by this cooling air and thereafter, the cooling air is discharged to the outside. The indication of the operation of a bypass valve in FIG. 5 indicates the position at which the valve is made operative to open the bypass passage when the suction port is completely closed. The bypass valve functions as a protecting apparatus to prevent the rotational speed from rising to a value which is equal to or higher than the speed indicated by the position of the bypass valve operation in FIG. 5.

As explained above, when the cleaning surface and object to be cleaned change and when the choking state fluctuates, the rotational speed varies. Therefore, in addition to accurately detecting the choking state, it is also necessary to detect the cleaning surface and object in order to provide an optimum operation of the cleaner in accordance with the cleaning surface and object.

FIG. 6 shows the fluctuation modes of the rotational speed for every cleaning surface and every object in the case where the cleaning operation is executed by use of the cleaner having a filter which is not choked. Namely, similarly to FIG. 5, in FIG. 6, the abscissa indicates time and represents different types of cleaning surface, while the ordinate represents the rotational speed. In particular, each of the fluctuation modes M₁ to M₄ shown in the circles indicates a change in rotational speed during the cleaning operation for each cleaning surface.

As is obvious from this diagram, when the cleaning surface is a tatami mat, the minimum speed is N₁₁ and the maximum speed is N₁₂ and a fluctuation in rotational speed is small within a predetermined sampling time. The minimum rotational speed at this time is N₁ shown in FIG. 5.

In the case of a carpet, the minimum speed is N₂₁ and the maximum speed is N₂₂ and the difference between the minimum and maximum speeds within the same sampling time as that mentioned above is larger than that in the case of the tatami mat. The minimum speed at this time is N₂.

The waveforms of vibration in the fluctuation modes of the rotational speeds in the cases of the tatami mat and carpet are similar although the fluctuation differences between the minimum and maximum speeds of the average rotational speeds are different.

In the case of a sofa, the minimum speed is N₃₁ and the maximum speed is N₃₂. The difference between them within the same sampling time is even larger than that in the case of the carpet. At this time, the minimum speed is N₃. The waveform in the fluctuation mode in the case of the sofa is similar to a square wave.

In the case of a curtain, the minimum speed is N₄₁ and the maximum speed is N₄₂ and the difference between them within the same sampling time is still larger than that in the case of the sofa. The minimum speed is N₄. The waveform in the fluctuation mode in the case of the curtain is also similar to a square wave similar to the case of the sofa.

It can be considered that each of the minimum rotational speeds N₁₁, N₂₁, N₃₁, and N₄₁ corresponds to the open state in which the suction port was removed from the cleaning surface. However, the average rotational speed can be also used in place of the minimum rotational speed.

As is obvious from the above explanation, it will be understood that the characteristic of the surface or object which is actually being cleaned can be detected from the average or minimum rotational speed and the fluctuation modes M₁ to M₄ of the motor of the cleaner and that the choking state can be also detected.

On the other hand, when considering the cleaning surface or object to be cleaned, it is the carpet from which it is most difficult to fetch dust. Therefore, when it is decided that the cleaning surface is a carpet or an object similar to a carpet, it is desirable to set the rotational speed into the highest speed. Next, it is preferable to sequentially set the rotational speed in accordance with the tatami mat, sofa, and curtain so as to gradually decrease. Namely, it was desirable to assume the rotational speeds as mentioned above in consideration of the easiness in fetching of dust and a phenomenon and state in which the suction port is attracted to the cleaning surface or the like.

Namely, since the cleaning surface or object or the choking state can be detected from FIG. 6 and the like, by setting the optimum rotational speed in accordance with the choking state detected, the cleaning operation can be performed in accordance with the cleaning surface.

Practical control means will now be explained.

FIG. 7 shows control patterns stored in the ROM 13b in the microcomputer 13. Practically speaking, these patterns are stored as function tables 22 corresponding to the respective cleaning surfaces. In this diagram, the abscissa denotes a degree of the choking state and the ordinate indicates a speed command N*. The rotational speed is set from the foregoing necessary rotational speeds in accordance with the order of carpet, tatami mat, sofa, and curtain and is set so as to increase as the choking state progresses. Due to this, the function in the function table 22 is automatically set in accordance with the cleaning surface. The cleaning surface such as a carpet or the like is not limited to the carpet. It is also possible to consider in a manner such that the function for a carpet is used in the case of the cleaning surface having a characteristic similar to that of the carpet. The same shall also apply to the cases of tatami mat, sofa, and curtain. Further, by calculating the speed command N* in accordance with the degree of choking state, the speed command N* corresponding to not only the presumed cleaning surface but also the degree of choking state is derived and the optimum control can be accomplished.

FIG. 8 shows the content of the processes which are executed by the microcomputer 13. This diagram shows a procedure to obtain the speed command N* in accordance with the characteristic of the cleaning surface and the degree of choking of the filter.

In the process I, the rotational speed of the motor 9 which changes with an elapse of time is calculated using the position detection signal 12S.

In the process II, the maximum speed N_(max) and the minimum speed N_(min) within a sampling time T are detected.

In the process III, the mode of the rotational vibration, namely, the vibration frequency and the value of amplitude within the sampling time are compared with the vibration mode (fluctuation mode of the speed) which has previously been stored in the ROM 13b, thereby detecting the characteristic of the cleaning surface and the degree of choking of the filter from the rotational speeds N_(max) and N_(min).

In the process IV, a predetermined value corresponding to the choking state is selected from the function table 22 selected on the basis of the cleaning surface and the degree of choking, thereby obtaining the speed command N* in accordance with this value.

A control circuit to realize this processing method will now be explained with reference to FIG. 9. Various kinds of speed control systems such as ASR, ACR, and the like are considered. In FIG. 9, a voltage controlled system having a closed loop is shown. In the diagram, when the user of the cleaner turns on the operation switch 18, an operation command is fetched to start the brushless DC motor 9. When the rotational speed rises to a predetermined speed, the activating process is finished. Thereafter, the processes to determine the cleaning surface and to detect the degree of choking of the filter are executed.

The microcomputer 13 shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 receives the position detection signal 12S from the magnetic pole position detecting circuit 12 and calculates the rotational speed in the process I in FIG. 8. In the next process II, the maximum speed N_(max) and the minimum speed N_(min) are detected. Further, the microcomputer 13 determines the characteristic of the cleaning surface and the choking state of the filter in the process III on the basis of the detected maximum and minimum speeds. Subsequently, in the process IV, a predetermined function table 22 is selected by a switch 23 in accordance with the cleaning surface and choking state. The speed command N* is obtained on the basis of a predetermined speed command value in the function table 22 selected in accordance with the degree of choking of the filter. The speed command N* is converted into a voltage command V* by a gain K. The voltage command V* is input to a D/A converter. An output of the D/A converter is compared with an output of a triangular wave generator, which is provided separately from the D/A converter, by a comparator provided at the output stage. An output corresponding to the difference between those outputs is supplied to the base driver 19. The base driver 19 applies the voltage based on the voltage command which was determined to the motor 9.

In this manner, the motor 9 is rotated at the required speed in response to the speed command N* according to the cleaning surface and the degree of choking of the filter.

FIG. 10 shows performance curves of a cleaner (electric blower) using the motor 9 which is controlled as explained above to drive the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 10 is simimar to that described in FIG. 3. In FIG. 10, broken lines indicate the case where the filter is not choked and solid lines represent the case where the filter is choked. As is obvious from this diagram, as the choking state of the filter progresses, by detecting this choking state and by increasing the rotational speed in accordance with the degree of choking, the suction power P_(out) which was reduced due to the choking can be raised as shown by the solid lines, so that a vacuum cleaner having a high efficiency can be obtained.

FIG. 11 similarly shows a change in performance to the cleaning surface. This diagram shows changes in suction power P_(out), rotational speed N, and load current I_(D) which are necessary in accordance with the type of cleaning surface. The optimum rotational speed N* is given in accordance with the characteristic responsive to the choking state of the filter on the basis of the function table 22 corresponding to the cleaning surface.

Although the control of the cleaner has been accomplished using only the brushless DC motor 9, it can be also attained by use of a variable speed motor.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the invention. In the diagram, a phase controlled AC commutator motor 24 comprises a field winding 24A and an armature 24B. The motor 24 is connected to the AC power source 14 through a phase control unit 25 including a control device such as triac, FLS, thyristor, or the like. An ignition angle of a gate of the control device of the phase control unit 25 is controlled by a driver 27 similar to the base driver 19 shown in FIG. 2. The microcomputer 13 also has the processing function similar to that mentioned above. Namely, the microcomputer 13 determines the characteristic of the cleaning surface on the basis of the maximum speed N_(max) and the minimum speed N_(min) within the sampling time on the basis of the rotation information (mainly, rotational speed information) derived from a rotation detector 26, thereby producing a gate signal of the control device by further considering the choking state of the filter. The content of the practical processes which are executed by the microcomputer is similar to that shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, it is also possible to provide a cleaner having the optimum suction state according to the presumed cleaning surface and choking state and the cleaning efficiency does not deteriorate.

According to the foregoing embodiment, it is possible to obtain a cleaner having an optimum suction performance in accordance with the cleaning surface and the choking state of the filter. However, since the cleaning surface is presumed from the rotational speed, when it has been presumed that the cleaning surface is tatami mat, this surface is not always tatami mat. In other words, this presumed cleaning surface is a surface having the same surface characteristic as that of a tatami mat or a cleaning surface in a state similar to the tatami mat.

In any case, the rotational speed is controlled in accordance with the state of the cleaning surface or controlled so as to compensate the suction performance which was deteriorated due to the choking of the filter. Thus, and optimum control of the cleaner can be automatically attained.

As is obvious from the above description, the rotational speed can be detected by directly using the signal of the Hall device 11 in the magnetic pole position detecting circuit 12 which is generally used in, for example, the brushless DC motor 9, so that what is called a sensorless vacuum cleaner is derived.

An explanation will now be made with respect to a practical example of a vacuum cleaner in which the speed control of the brushless DC motor can be performed to achieve an optimum condition in accordance with a change in load of the vacuum cleaner.

FIGS. 13 to 15 show another embodiment of the invention. A speed control unit in this case is as shown in FIG. 13 and differs from the speed control unit shown in FIG. 2 with respect to two points that a speed command circuit 180 is used in place of the operation switch 18 and that the voltage command circuit 21 is omitted. In FIG. 13, the parts and components having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 15 shows performance curves of a vacuum cleaner, in which the abscissa denotes an amount Q of air flow which was inhaled from the hose 2 and the ordinate represents a suction power P_(out) indicative of the suction performance of the cleaner and a rotational speed N and a load current I_(D) of the motor. Solid lines indicate the case where a conventional AC commutator motor was used and broken lines represent the case where the brushless DC motor was used. A range from the maximum operating point to the minimum operating point is the operating range of the vacuum cleaner.

Namely, in the case of using the conventional AC commutator motor, the suction power P_(out) increases from the maximum operating point (in the state in which the suction port of the hose was removed from an object to be cleaned, or the like) with a decrease in air flow amount and reaches the maximum value. When the air flow amount further decreases, the suction power P_(out) is reduced and reaches the minimum operating point (in the state in which the filter is choked, the suction port is closed, or the like). In general, in the case where a tatami mat or carpet is cleaned, the operating point is located on the side where the air flow amount is small from the maximum point of the suction P_(out) and the cleaner is actually used in the range where the suction power P_(out) is small. Therefore, when the cleaner has inhaled dust and the dust is accumulated, the suction capability of the vacuum cleaner largely deteriorates. This is because, since the load current I_(D) of the AC commutator motor decreases with a reduction in wind air flow amount and an increase in the degree of the rotational speed in the range from the maximum operating point to the minimum operating point is small, the output of the motor is reduced.

Therefore, it is sufficient for the vacuum cleaner to rotate the fan at a high speed in response to the decrease in air flow amount. When the fan is rotated at a high speed, a torque T also increases. In other words, the current also rises. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, although the brushless DC motor generally exhibits a shunt characteristic, by performing series wound control such so as to increase the rotational speed with a decrease in air flow amount, the motor can obtain a characteristic as shown by broken lines. Thus, there is an effect such that the suction power P_(out) at an operating point near the minimum operating point can be improved.

FIG. 14 shows the order of the processing operations which are executed by the microcomputer.

Namely, when a start command is input, the motor is rotated to a predetermined rotational speed. Thereafter, by performing the series wound control by detecting the load state, the characteristic as shown in FIG. 15 is derived.

Practically speaking, the state in which the motor is held in the standby mode until a start command is input is repeated. When the speed command serving as a reference speed is input from the speed command circuit 180 to the microcomputer 13, the microcomputer 13 detects the position of the magnetic pole and outputs a position detection signal and controls the speed (controls the voltage or current which is applied to the motor) on the basis of the calculated speed. The activation mode is repeated until the rotational speed reaches the speed command value. When the rotational speed has reached the speed command value, the microcomputer 13 enters the series wound control mode and detects the position of the magnetic pole and outputs the position detection signal. Then, the microcomputer calculates the load state of the cleaner on the basis of the result of the speed obtained and the detection value of the load current and controls the speed on the basis of the load state obtained so as to exhibit a predetermined series wound characteristic. The series wound control mode is repeated. The actual speed is compared with the speed command value in each mode. When no speed command exists (i.e., when a stop command is input), the motor is stopped and the motor is set into the standby mode to wait for the input of a start command. These operations are repeated. Thus, it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner which can increase the power (improve the suction power indicative of the suction performance) of the cleaner.

FIGS. 16 to 18 show another embodiment of the invention. In this case, a speed control unit is as shown in FIG. 17 and differs from the speed control unit shown in FIG. 13 with respect to a point that the voltage command circuit 21 is provided. In FIG. 17, the parts and components having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 13 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 16, when a command is input from the speed command circuit 180 to the microcomputer 13, the microcomputer 13 reads the command and outputs a speed command N*. The speed command N* is input to a D/A converter of the voltage command circuit 21. An output of the D/A converter is compared with an output of the triangular wave generator by the comparator. An output of the comparator is input to the base driver 17, so that the voltage which is applied to the motor 9 is determined. In response to the position detection signal 12S from the magnetic pole position detecting circuit 12, the microcomputer 13 calculates the rotational speed N. The speed N is compared with the command value N". Thus, the motor 9 is controlled so as to always rotate at the speed instructed by the speed command N*.

Further, the current detection signal 17S of the current detecting circuit 17 is input to the microcomputer 13. The microcomputer 13 calculates the load current I_(D) and obtains the difference (I_(D1) -I_(D)) between a reference value I_(D1) and the load current I_(D). The microcomputer 13 also calculates ΔN by a gain K_(O) and is added to the speed command N*. Thus, the speed command N* is corrected by the value of the load current I_(D) corresponding to the load change and the motor 9 is operated by the closed loop speed control on the basis of the new speed command N*+ΔN. Therefore, the rotational speed increases with a decrease in load current I_(D), so that the series wound characteristic is derived. There is an effect such that a vacuum cleaner having an improved suction performance is obtained.

FIG. 18 shows performance curves of a vacuum cleaner in which a brushless DC motor is driven by a speed control unit according to the invention. In the diagram, the abscissa denotes an amount Q of air which flows in the vacuum cleaner and the ordinate represents suction power P_(out) indicative of the suction performance of the vacuum cleaner, a rotational speed N and a load current I_(D) of the motor. The range from the maximum operating point to the minimum operating point is the operating range of the vacuum cleaner. Broken lines indicate the case where the motor is continuously operated by the ordinary closed loop speed control. Since the rotational speed N is constant to a change in air flow amount Q, the suction power P_(out) is small and a desired performance as a vacuum cleaner is not obtained. On the other hand, solid lines show the case where the motor is operated by the closed loop speed control of this embodiment. Since the speed correction amount ΔN is obtained from the difference (I_(D1) -I_(D)) corresponding to the decreased amount of the load current I_(D) from the reference load current I_(D1) due to the change in air flow amount Q, the rotational speed increases in a square manner (i.e. in an accelerated manner) with a decrease in air flow amount Q. Thus, there is an effect such that a vacuum cleaner in which the suction power P_(out) is large and the suction performance is improved is derived.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show another embodiment of the invention. In this case, a speed control unit uses the speed control unit shown in FIG. 17. In FIG. 19, when a command is input from the speed command circuit 180 to the microcomputer 13, the microcomputer 13 reads the command and determines the speed command N* and outputs the voltage command V* by a gain K₁. The voltage command V* is input to the D/A converter of the voltage command circuit 21. An output of the D/A converter and an output of the triangular wave generator are compared by the comparator. An output of the comparator is input to the base driver 19, so that the voltage which is applied to the brushless DC motor 9 is decided. Thus, the motor 9 is operated by the closed loop voltage control based on the speed command N*. Therefore, the rotational speed changes by the drooping characteristic of the motor in dependence on the load change of the cleaner (for example, the change of the surface to be cleaned when the filter of the cleaner main body is choked and the suction port is in contact with the floor surface, or the like). When the load is light, the rotational speed increases. When the load is heavy, the speed decreases. Namely, the same characteristic as that of the AC commutator motor which is used in a current vacuum cleaner is obtained. There is an effect such that the motor control suitable for the vacuum cleaner can be performed.

Further, an output of the current detecting circuit 17 is input to the microcomputer 13. The microcomputer 13 calculates the load current I_(D) and obtains the difference (I_(D1) -I_(D)) between the reference value I_(D1) and the load current I_(D). ΔV is calculated by a gain K₂ and added to the voltage command V*. Thus, the voltage command V* is corrected (in other words, the speed command N* is corrected) by the value of the load current I_(D) corresponding to the load change and the brushless DC motor 9 is operated by the open loop voltage control on the basis of the new voltage command V*+ΔV. Thus, there are effects such that the variable range of the rotational speed is widened, the series wound characteristic is accomplished, and a vacuum cleaner in which the suction performance is improved is obtained.

FIG. 20 shows performance curves of a vacuum cleaner in which a brushless DC motor was driven by the speed control unit of the invention. In the diagram, the abscissa denotes an amount Q of air which flows in the vacuum cleaner and the ordinate represents suction power P_(out) representative of the suction performance of the vacuum cleaner, a rotational speed N and a load current I_(D) of the motor. The range from the maximum operating point to the minimum operating point is the operating range of the vacuum cleaner. Broken lines indicate the case where the motor was operated by the ordinary closed loop speed control. Since the rotational speed N is constant to a change in air flow amount Q, the suction power P_(out) is small and a desired performance of the vacuum cleaner is not derived. On the other hand, solid lines show the case where the motor was operated by the open loop voltage control of the invention. Since the rotational speed increases with a decrease in air flow amount Q, the suction power P_(out) is large and a desired performance of the vacuum cleaner is derived. Further, alternate long and short dash lines represent the case where the motor is operated by the series wound control feature of the invention. The voltage correction amount ΔV is derived from the difference (I_(D1) -I_(D) ) corresponding to the decreased amount of the load current I_(D) from the reference load current I_(D1) due to the change in air flow amount Q, so that the rotational speed increases in a square manner with a decrease in air flow amount Q. Thus, there are effects such that the suction power P_(out) further rises and the vacuum cleaner in which the suction performance is improved is obtained.

FIGS. 21 to 23 show another embodiment of the invention. In this case, a speed control unit is as shown in FIG. 22 and differs from the speed control unit shown in FIG. 17 with respect to a point that a current command circuit 210 is used in place of the voltage command circuit 21. In FIG. 22, the parts and components having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 17 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 21, when a command is input from the speed command circuit 180 to the microcomputer 13, the microcomputer 13 reads this command and produces the speed command N* and outputs a current command I_(D) * by a gain K₁₁. The current command I_(D) * is input to a D/A converter 210a in the current command circuit 210. An output of the D/A converter 210a and an output of a triangular wave generator 210b are compared by a comparator 210c. An output of the comparator 210c is input to the base deriver 19 and the voltage which is applied to the brushless DC motor 9 is determined. An output of the current detecting circuit 17 is input to the microcomputer 13. The microcomputer 13 calculates the load current I_(D) and compares it with the current command I_(D) *. Thus, the motor 9 is controlled so as to always rotate at the speed instructed by the current command I_(D) *.

Further, in response to a detection signal from the magnetic pole position detecting circuit 12, the microcomputer 13 calculates the speed and obtains the difference (N-N₁) between the rotational speed N and the reference value N₁ and obtains ΔI_(D) by a gain K₂₁ and compares it with the current command I_(D) *. Thus, the current command I_(D) * is corrected (in other words, the speed command is corrected) by the value of the rotational speed N corresponding to the load change and the motor 9 is operated by the closed loop current control (this control is referred to as the series wound control) on the basis of the new current command I_(D) *-ΔI_(D), so that the variable range of the rotational speed is widened.

FIG. 23 shows performance curves of a vacuum cleaner in which the brushless DC motor was driven by the speed control unit of the invention. In the diagram, the abscissa denotes an amount Q of air flow which flows in the vacuum cleaner and the ordinate indicates suction power P_(out) representative of the suction performance of the vacuum cleaner, a rotational speed N and a load current I_(D) of the motor. The range from the maximum operating point to the minimum operating point is the operating range of the vacuum cleaner. Broken lines indicate the case where the motor is operated by the ordinary closed loop speed control. Since the rotational speed N is constant to a change in air flow amount Q, the suction is P_(out) is small and a desired performance of the vacuum cleaner is not obtained. On the other hand, solid lines show the case where the motor is operated by the closed loop current control of the invention. When the air flow amount Q decreases, the load torque is also reduced. Therefore, when the closed loop current control is performed, the rotational speed N increases in a square manner with a decrease in air flow amount Q, so that the suction power P_(out) is large and a desired performance of the vacuum cleaner is obtained. Further, alternate long and short dash lines indicate the case where the motor is operated by the series wound control of the invention. The current correction amount ΔI_(D) is obtained from the difference (N-N₁) corresponding to the increased amount of the rotational speed N from the reference rotational speed N₁ due to the change in air flow amount Q and compared with the current command I_(D) *. Thus, an increase in rotational speed N due to a change in air flow amount Q can be suppressed and the series wound characteristic can be obtained. By arbitrarily setting the current correction amount ΔI_(D), the change range of the rotational speed N can be widened. Thus, there are effects such that the change range of the rotational speed is widened and the suction power P_(out) can be arbitrarily adjusted and a vacuum cleaner in which the suction performance is improved is obtained.

FIGS. 24 to 27 show another embodiment of the invention. In this case, a speed control unit uses the speed control unit shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 24 shows performance curves of a vacuum cleaner in which a brushless DC motor is used as a drive source. In the diagram, the abscissa denotes an amount Q of air which flows in the vacuum cleaner and the ordinate indicates suction power P_(out) representative of the suction performance of the vacuum cleaner, a rotational speed N and a load current I_(D) of the motor. The range from the maximum operating point to the minimum operating point is the operating range of the vacuum cleaner. The position near the maximum operating point corresponds to the state in which the suction port is away from the surface to be cleaned and at this time, the maximum electric power is needed. On the other hand, the position near the minimum operating point corresponds to the state in which the suction port is closely in contact with the floor surface and at this time, the electric power is minimum.

The load state of the vacuum cleaner is light in the case of the floor surface such as, e.g., tatami mat, carpet, etc. and the position near the maximum suction power corresponds to the operating point. Namely, the substantial operating range falls within a range from the point of the maximum suction power to the minimum operating point. On the other hand, as mentioned before, the position near the minimum operating point corresponds to the state in which the suction port is closely in contact with the floor surface. Therefore, the cleaning work of the cleaner is not performed. On the contrary, the suction port is hardly removed from the floor surface and it is hard for the user to handle the cleaner to perform the cleaning.

To avoid such a problem, in order to effectively use the electric power, according to the invention, when the user is performing the cleaning by vacuuming dust using the cleaner, the brushless DC motor is rotated at the full power and the electric power is saved in other cases.

FIG. 25 shows performance curves of a vacuum cleaner having the power saving function. In the diagram, the abscissa and the ordinate indicate the same contents as those shown in FIG. 24. Broken lines show the case where the power saving was performed by the low output open loop control. Solid lines represent the case where the speed control was performed by high output open loop control. Namely, the rotational speed of the brushless DC motor is increased to the speed at the maximum operating point A₂ by an inverter control unit and the speed control is performed by the low output open loop. At this time, the motor is in the power saving state and the rotational speed is low, so that the level of the sound which is generated from the cleaner can be reduced and at the same time, the electric power consumption can be saved. Next, since the speed control is executed by the open loop, when the load condition changes (so as to reduce the load), the load current of the brushless DC motor decreases. When the load current I_(D) is reduced to I₂, the control mode is switched from the low output open loop control to the high output open loop control and the motor is fully rotated along the solid line on which the rotational speed changes in dependence on the air flow amount. On the other hand, when the rotational speed of the brushless DC motor rises and reaches N₁, the operating mode is also switched to the power saving state (low output open loop control). In this state, when the load condition changes so as to contrarily increase the load, the load current I_(D) of the motor increases. When the load current I_(D) reaches I₁, the control mode is again switched to the high output open loop control, and the motor is fully rotated in a manner similar to the foregoing case. When the rotational speed of the motor decreases and reaches N₂, the operating mode is switched to the power saving state (low output open loop control) and the motor is returned to the original state.

Thus, the load state can be discriminated without using a load state sensor (air flow amount sensor or the like). Only when the user performs the cleaning work, the brushless DC motor is fully rotated and the electric power can be saved in the other cases. There are effects such that the sound level can be reduced and the electric power consumption can be saved in the standby mode of the cleaner.

FIG. 26 is a schematic block diagram of a control circuit to accomplish the performance of FIG. 25. In the diagram, when a command is input from the speed command circuit 18 to the microcomputer 13, the microcomputer 13 reads the command and first selects a gain K₁₂ (gain when the low output open loop control is performed) and supplies the voltage output data to the D/A converter in the voltage command circuit 21. An output of the D/A converter is compared with an output of the triangular wave generator by the comparator. An output of the comparator is input to the base driver 19. The voltage (or current) which is applied to the brushless DC motor 9 is determined. The motor enters the power saving state.

In response to a detection signal from the magnetic pole position detecting circuit 12, the microcomputer computer 13 calculates the speed. In response to a detection signal from the current detecting circuit 17, the microcomputer 13 calculates the current. On the basis of the speed and current calculated, the switching state is decided. When the cleaner is set into the cleaning mode, the gain K₁₂ is switched to a gain K₂₂ (gain when the high output open loop control is performed: K₁ <K₂) and the brushless DC motor is fully rotated.

FIG. 27 shows the order of the processing operations of the microcomputer in this embodiment.

Namely, the activation waiting state is repeated. When an activation command is input, the brushless DC motor is rotated to a predetermined rotational speed (rotational speed at the maximum operating point). Then, the low output open loop control is executed and the cleaner is set into the power saving state. If the load current I_(D) is smaller than I₁ or larger than I₂, the low output open loop control is continued. Next, when the load current I_(D) falls within a range from I₁ to I₂ (I₁ <I_(D) <I₂ ), the high output open loop control is performed and the motor is fully rotated. When the rotational speed N lies within a range from N₁ to N₂ (N₁ <N<N₂), the high output open loop control is continued. When the rotational speed N is higher than N₁ or lower than N₂, the low output open loop control is executed and the cleaner is set into the power saving state.

Therefore, according to another embodiment when the user is performing the cleaning work using the cleaner, the motor is fully rotated and the cleaner is operated in the power saving mode in the cleaning standby mode in the other cases. Thus, there are effects such that the sound level can be reduced and the electric power consumption can be saved.

FIGS. 28 to 30 show another embodiment of the invention. In this case, a speed control unit uses the speed control unit shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 28 shows performance curves of a vacuum cleaner in which a brushless DC motor is used in a drive source. In the diagram, the abscissa denotes an amount Q of air which flows in the vacuum cleaner and the ordinate indicates suction power P_(out) representative of the suction performance of the vacuum cleaner, a rotational speed N and a load current I_(D) of the motor. The range from the maximum operating point to the minimum operating point is the operating range of the vacuum cleaner. On the other hand, since the air flow amount Q decreases in dependence on the degree of choking state, the operating point for the chokes of the filter moves from the maximum operating point to the minimum operating point. Thus, as the degree of choking state increases, the suction power P_(out) decreases in the ranges before and after the maximum suction power P_(max) as a turning point and the performance of the vacuum cleaner is lacking. Further, when the degree of sealing in the intake air passage rises because this passage is choked or foreign matter is deposited therein, or the like, the rotational speed increases more than it is needed. Such a situation causes a problem in terms of the mechanical strength of the motor and the life of the bearing. To avoid such a problem, according to the invention, the load current of the motor is detected and the operating mode is decided on the basis of the level of the load current. In particular, when the load current has decreased to a value which is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the rotational speed is set to a constant value, thereby preventing the over-rotation.

FIGS. 29A and 29B show changes in load current to the operating mode. The point A₁ at which the air flow amount Q is large as shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the case where the filter is not choked. The difference between the load current I_(D) and the minimum current set value I_(DS) shown by a broken line is large. On the other hand, a point B₁ at which the air flow amount Q is small corresponds to the state in which the degree of sealing rises because the filter is choked or foreign matter is inhaled in the intake air passage. The minimum value I_(D2) of the current change is smaller than the minimum current set value I_(DS) shown by a broken line. Thus, the choking of the intake passage or filter can be accurately decided by this value without using the sensor.

FIG. 30 is a schematic constitutional block diagram of a control circuit to drive a brushless DC motor of the invention. An open loop voltage control system has been shown as an example of a speed control system. In the diagram, when a command is input from the speed command circuit 180 to the microcomputer 13, the microcomputer 13 reads the command and outputs the speed command N*. The microcomputer 13 first selects a gain K₁₃ and supplies the voltage output data V* to the D/A converter in the voltage command circuit 21. An output of the D/A converter is compared with an output of the triangular wave generator by the comparator. An output of the comparator is input to the base driver 19. The voltage which is applied to the brushless DC motor 9 is determined. The motor is rotated at the rotational speed corresponding to the reference voltage.

In response to the detection signal 12S from the load current detecting circuit 12, the microcomputer 13 then compares the currents. A switching decision processing section determines whether the load current I_(D) is smaller or larger than the minimum current set value I_(DS). If the load current I_(D) is smaller than the minimum current set value I_(DS), it is determined that the filter is choked because of foreign matter (handkerchief, nylon sheet, etc.) is obstructing the intake air passage. Thus, the voltage correction amount ΔV is subtracted from the voltage by the gain K₂₃, thereby correcting the voltage command (in other words, correcting the speed command) of the brushless DC motor. Therefore, there are effects such that the rotational speed of the motor is not increased to a greater than is needed and the overrotation can be prevented.

FIGS. 31 to 37 show another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 38 shows another embodiment of the invention. Both of these embodiments relate to an apparatus to operate a motor such that a vacuum cleaner can use an AC power source of any of the low and high voltage systems.

FIG. 31 shows a block diagram of a speed control unit of a brushless DC motor. An AC voltage 116 of an AC power source 101 is converted into a DC voltage E_(d) through a rectifier 102 and a step-up chopper circuit 103 to improve the power factor. The DC electric power is supplied to an inverter 104. A air flowing 105a of a brushless DC motor 105 is driven by the inverter 104.

A control circuit to control the speed of the motor 105 comprises a microcomputer 106; a position detecting circuit 108 to detect the position of the magnetic pole of a rotor 105b of the brushless DC motor 105 from a motor terminal voltage 107; an inverter control section 109 for transistors Q₁ to Q₆ constituting the inverter 104; a DC voltage control section 111 to control the step-up chopper circuit 103 while referring to the waveform and level of a power source current 110; a DC voltage comparing section 125 to decide whether the voltage system of the AC power source 101 is the low voltage system or the high voltage system; and a direct current detecting section 126 to detect a DC current I_(d) flowing through the inverter 104.

Various kinds of programs necessary to drive the DC motor 105 are stored in the microcomputer 106. For example, the microcomputer 106 executes the following processes: the process to control the speed; the process to fetch a position detection signal 112 from the position detecting circuit 108, a speed command signal 113, a DC voltage comparison signal 130, and a detected direct current 123; and the process to output an inverter drive signal 114, a current command signal 115 to the DC voltage control section 111, and a voltage signal 124 to the inverter control section 109.

The chopper circuit 103 comprises a coil 103a, a transistor Q₇, a diode 103b, and a smoothing capacitor 103c. A drive signal to the transistor Q₇ is produced by the DC voltage control section 111. By changing the on time and off time of the transistor Q₇, the level of the power source current 110 is changed.

FIG. 32 shows the relation between the power source voltage 116 and the power source current 110. The waveform of the power source current 110 is set to a sine wave of the same phase as that of the power source voltage 116 by the chopper circuit 103 which is controlled by the DC voltage control section 111 and at the same time, the effective value as the magnitude of the sine wave is controlled in accordance with the current command signal 115 which is output from the microcomputer 106, thereby setting the power factor of the power source to about 1.0.

The power source current control section 111 comprises a power source voltage detecting circuit 111a to make a voltage signal 117 having the full-wave rectified waveform synchronized with the power source voltage 116 from an output voltage of the rectifier 102 a D/A converter 111b with a multiplication to produce a sync current command signal 118 as an analog signal by multiplying the voltage signal 117 with the current command signal 115 as a digital signal; a power source current amplifier 111c to convert the full-wave rectified waveform of the power source current 110 into the voltage by a resistor R₁₀ and to detect and amplify; a current control amplifier 111d to compare a detection power source current signal 119 as an output of the power source current amplifier 111c with the sync current command signal 118, thereby setting the difference voltage to 0; a comparator 111f to compare a difference signal 120 as an output of the current control amplifier 111d with a triangular wave signal 121 as an output of a triangular wave oscillator 111e, thereby producing a chopper signal 122 for the transistor Q₇ ; and a driver 111g for the chopper for the transistor Q₇.

The inverter control section 109 comprises a D/A converter 109d to convert the voltage control signal 124 as a digital signal which is output from the microcomputer 106 into an analog signal; a comparator 109b to compare a voltage signal 127 as an output of the D/A converter 109d with a triangular wave signal 128 as an output of a triangular wave oscillator 109c, thereby making a chopper signal 129 for the inverter 104; and a driver 109a for the inverter 104.

The direct current detecting section 126 comprises: a direct current amplifier 126a to convert a direct current I_(d) into a voltage by a resistor R₂₀ and to detect and amplify the voltage; and an A/D converter 126b to convert an output of the direct current amplifier 126a into a digital signal.

The DC voltage comparing section 125 comprises a set voltage amplifier 125a to amplify a DC set voltage E_(dc) ; and a comparator 125b to compare an output of the set voltage amplifier 125a with the DC voltage E_(d) detected by resistors R₃₀ and R₄₀.

With the foregoing constitution, the reasons why the different control methods are used for the case where the AC power souce 101 is of the low voltage system and for the case where it is of the high voltage system and its switching method will now be explained hereinbelow.

A brushless DC motor 105 is speed controlled by changing an output voltage of the inverter 104. As a method of changing the output voltage, there are a method whereby the DC voltage E_(d) is changed by the step-up chopper circuit 103 to improve the power factor and a method whereby the voltage which is applied to the motor 105 is changed by the PWM control by the inverter 104. According to the former method, since the chopper circuit 103 is used, when the DC voltage E_(d) is set to be lower than the peak value of the power source voltage 116 of the AC power source 101, the chopper circuit 103 is turned off and does not operate at the position near the peak value of the power source voltage 116, so that the power source current 110 cannot be controlled to a sine wave. To control the speed in such a range, it is necessary to perform the PWM control by the inverter 104 on the basis of the latter method.

On the other hand, when the same control method is used for the low voltage system and high voltage system, the voltage which is applied to the motor 105 changes by twice/half of the applied voltage. To obtain the same characteristic, two kinds of motors 105 which are energized by different voltages are necessary. Therefore, different control methods are used for the low voltage system and high voltage system by a method which will be explained hereinbelow.

FIG. 33 shows the capacitor charging voltage E_(d) before the motor 105 is activated. The capacitor voltage E_(d) is held at E_(d1) in the case of the low voltage system and at E_(d2) in the case of the high voltage system. When a set voltage E_(dc) in the DC voltage comparing section 125 is set to a value which is higher than E_(d1) and lower than E_(d2), the output signal 130 of the comparator 125b changes to the high level for the low voltage system and to the low level for the high voltage system.

FIG. 34 shows the content of processes which are executed by the microcomputer 106. By fetching the output signal 130 of the DC voltage comparing section 125, it is decided whether the initial charging volta E_(d) of the capacitor 103c is of the low voltage system or of the high voltage system. When it is of the low voltage system, the inverter 104 is controlled by fixing the current supply angle to 120° and the DC volta E_(d) which is output from the chopper circuit 103 is made variable, thereby controlling the speed of the motor 105. In the case of the high voltage system, the DC voltage E_(d) which is output from the chopper circuit 103 is set to a fixed value and the inverter 104 is controlled by setting the current supply angle to 120° and by performing the PWM, thereby controlling the speed of the motor 105.

A practical example will now be explained. In the case of the low voltage system, as shown in FIG. 35, the DC voltage E_(d) is changed from E_(O) to E_(dm) (the maximum value) by the chopper circuit 103 in accordance with speed command signals N₁ * to N₂ *. FIGS. 36A and 36B show line voltages of one phase of the motor 105. Since the inverter 104 is controlled by fixing the current supply to 120°, the applied voltage of the motor 105 varies depending on the chopper circuit 103. The speed of the motor 105 is controlled by the chopper circuit 103.

In the case of the high voltage system, as shown in FIGS. 37A and 37B, the chopper circuit 103 is controlled such that the DC voltage E_(d) is set to a constant value of E_(dm) (the maximum voltage for the low voltage system) and the inverter 104 is controlled by fixing the current supply angle to 120° and by performing the PWM. Therefore, the average voltage E₁ is changed by the PWM control and the speed of the motor 105 is controlled by the inverter 104.

Thus, the voltage which is applied to the motor 105 is set to the same voltage in both cases where the AC power source 101 is of the low voltage system and where it is of the high voltage system. One kind of brushless DC motor 105 can be used irrespective of the power source voltage 116.

An operating apparatus of FIG. 38 differs from that of FIG. 31 with respect to a point that the decision regarding whether the AC power source voltage 116 is of the low voltage system or of the high voltage system is performed on the basis of the output voltage of the rectifier 102. Since the output signal 130 of the DC voltage comparing section 125 has a pulse waveform, a latch circuit 125c is provided and an output of the latch circuit 125c is input to the microcomputer 106. With this constitution, by fetching this output signal, it is always possible to determine whether the power source voltage E_(d) is of the low voltage system or of the high voltage system. 

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for operating a vacuum cleaner, comprising:a speed control unit including a brushless DC motor and an inverter control unit for controlling the supply of power to said brushless DC motor; and a control 36 circuit for controlling said inverter control unit including a microcomputer, a load current detecting circuit, a magnetic pole position detecting circuit, and a speed command circuit, said microcomputer providing means for calculating a load state of a cleaner from a load current of said brushless DC motor detected by said current detecting circuit and a rotational speed of said brushless DC motor determined from an output of said magnetic pole position detecting circuit, and means for controlling said inverter control unit to control a voltage or a current which is applied to the brushless DC motor so as to reduce the supply of electric power in at least one of a heavy load state and a light load state of the brushless DC motor on the basis of the result of the calculated load state.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein for purposes of saving electric power said microcomputer provides means to control the speed of said DC brushless motor using at least two open control loops including a low output open control loop having a power saving mode and a high output open control loop, and switching means for switching a control mode to said high output open control loop from said low output open control loop in accordance with the value of the load current of said brushless DC motor and for switching the control mode to said low output open control loop in accordance with the value of the rotational speed of the brushless DC motor during high output open loop control.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said microcomputer further provides means for generating a speed control signal in response to a speed command, first means for subjecting said speed control signal to a first gain for low output open control and second means for subjecting said speed control signal to a second gain for high output open control, said switching means operating to select said first means or said second means.
 4. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:a filter to collect particles from a surface to be cleaned; a variable speed motor connected to a device to cause particles to be picked up from said surface and collected by said filter; a current detecting circuit for detecting the load current of said variable speed motor; a magnetic pole position detecting circuit associated with said variable speed motor; means for calculating a load state of said cleaner from a load current detected by said current detecting circuit and a rotational speed of said variable speed motor; and means for controlling a voltage or current supplied to said variable speed motor so as to reduce the supply of electric power by switching between one control mode in a heavy load state and another control mode in a light load state of said variable speed motor in accordance with the calculated load state.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said controlling means includes means for controlling the speed of said variable speed motor using at least two open control loops including a low output open control loop having a power saving mode and a high output open control loop, and switching means for switching to said high output open control loop from said low output open control loop when the load current of said variable speed motor reaches a predetermined level and for switching to said low output open control loop from said high output open control loop when the rotational speed of said variable speed motor reaches a predetermined value.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said controlling means includes means for generating a speed control signal in response to a speed command, first means for subjecting said speed control signal to a first gain for low output open control and second means for subjecting said speed control signal to a second gain for high output open control, said switching means operating to select said first means or said second means.
 7. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein said variable speed motor is a DC brushless motor. 